Volunteer & Intern with us!
2026 Summer Volunteer & Intern Cycle: Closed
2026 Fall Volunteer & Intern Cycle: Closed
2027 Winter / Spring Volunteer & Intern Cycle: Closed
2027 Summer Volunteer & Intern Cycle: Open
2027 Fall Volunteer & Intern Cycle: Applications open November 2026.
We depend on the hard work and commitment of our volunteers & interns. We are deeply connected to our community and protective of our children. All of our volunteers & interns must go through a screening process and provide several references before they can engage in activities with the Mariposas. It is also essential that long-term and local volunteers have strong Spanish skills.
Please note: Volunteers and interns must be 21 years of age or older. As Mariposa provides housing, meals, and oversight, we require volunteers and interns to pay a deposit the organization prior to arrival; partial scholarships are available on rolling basis.
Community Engaged Learning
The staff at The Mariposa DR Foundation are expert trip leaders in the Dominican Republic. We offer community based learning trips designed around tackling the specific needs of our local communities. These trips are service oriented and predicated on the willingness and understanding of volunteer groups coming to offer their open minds and hands towards community building.
Group projects range from physical labor such as painting homes, remodeling schools and classrooms, building walls, playgrounds, sport areas and creating educational materials, to organized sports and activities with children.
Our experiences provide a unique opportunity for students to relate academics to real-life situations and foster a sense of civic responsibility. They are a powerful medium for cross-cultural exchanges and open up new horizons for students and the community members working alongside them.
Interested in organizing a community engaged learning trip? Learn more here and submit a Community Engaged Learning Interest Form here.
Local Volunteers
The Mariposa DR Foundation welcomes volunteers from the local community. We determine on an individual basis on how to best leverage the strengths of our volunteers to be effective in our programs depending on time commitment and Spanish language proficiency. Please note that we are not able to oversee volunteers that are available for less than 6 months. It is important for our programs and our students that there be consistency. Additionally, volunteers must be 21 years of age or older.
Please submit your completed application to info@mariposadrfoundation.org.
Skilled Volunteers
We are always looking for volunteers with special skills: artists, educators, water sport enthusiasts, environmentalists, and chefs who may be able to help us with certain projects or offer training for our staff. If you are interested in sharing your skills with our organization we would love to hear from you! Please email info@mariposadrfoundation.org with your inquiry.
Long-Term & Summer Interns
2027 Fall Internship opportunities will be available in November 2026.
The Mariposa DR Foundation recruits interns from top international universities, graduate programs and professional careers for yearlong posts in communities where we work. Our interns are chosen through a rigorous selection process and are sustained by personal fundraising efforts or often outside scholarships, grants and fellowships through universities or private donors. Our interns live in the communities where we work and tailor our programs to meet the specific needs of the people. Long-term interns are critical in ensuring that we are deeply connected and that we have a full understanding of what the priorities should be in each area. Applicants must be 21 or older.
Mariposa Long-Term and Summer Interns must pay deposits for housing, meals, and oversight. Partial scholarships are available on a rolling basis.
Learn more about our Summer Internship Institute here.